By Emma Ujah,   Abuja Bureau Chief  

The Federal Government has said that it will prioritise manufacturing,  agriculture and healthcare sectors in the implementation of the Import Duty Exemption Scheme.  

Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, who announced this in Abuja,  yesterday, also said that an Incentives Monitoring and Evaluation Platform (IMEP) would be integrated into the scheme to ensure its transparency.  

The introduction of the monitoring platform,   Edun said,   would raise the bar of efficiency of the programme.  

The Director of Information and Public Relations of the ministry, Mr. Mohammed Gana, quoted the minister as saying, “this administration is determined to stimulate growth through incentives to the real sectors of the economy.”

The IDEC programme strategically reduces import duty burdens for priority sectors and curbs tax revenue loss.

“Integrated into the IDEC framework, the newly launched IMEP ensures that only eligible entities benefit, rigorously enforcing compliance and optimising tax expenditures to reduce waste, block leakages and enhance economic equity.

“Key features of the IMEP include an automated claw-back mechanism for recouping waivers from defaulters, real-time e-report generation and a centralised database that enhances the efficiency of our verification processes.”

The Minister said, “IMEP aims to ensure that tax incentives are rationalised to deliver maximum economic impact, aligning with the government’s commitment to reducing waste, blocking leakages, and fostering a robust and equitable economic environment.